Cool Lights
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I've gotten several requests for a status update on various projects and existing products so here goes. The projects fall into the 3 categories of LED, fluorescent and metal halide.
Lets start with LEDs.
As you may have seen on this thread:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=129091
We are working on an V2 of an LED project I started last fall. The first panel was disappointing in LED CRI and had some heat issues. I recommissioned another panel recently and I showed that today but will repost here:
I showed other pictures of it on the LED thread. The current issue is the LEDs are not a good color temperature for our use so we need to get another LED thats more suitable. The power draw is not bad though and is 25w at 12v. Some good suggestions have come out of the design thread including a single and double panel version that folds up like a book into a form easy for carrying around like an attache case.
Next steps are change out the LEDs, firm up the fixture housing we'll use for the single and double models, finish up yoke/angle positioning methods for the fixture, and packaging. We have planned on a pre-order price of $200 and a final price of $300 for the single version. Pricing to be determined on the double version.
FLUORESCENT
On the fluorescent front, the CL-655 studio (metal) model will be back better than ever with a radio remote controlled dimmable version (due to a lot of demand for a remote dim option). We finally found a dimmable ballast and remote control package that I like a lot and is very stable. I like the radio aspect over infrared for not being directional and I think you will too.
The "CL-655RD" as it will be called, will look pretty much like the normal CL-655 non-dimmable, but will include a digital pot for manual setting of the dimming on the fixture itself as well as a radio remote which includes all the appropriate controls for controlling banks (3 tubes at a time) and dimming. Here's a picture of our new ballast set and included remote and manual dim digital pot for the 655:
This is a double set of 3x55 dimmable ballasts and we also have a 2x55 dimmable ballast and remote available for our other models but are not ready to include yet. The other dimmable models will continue to use the current dimmable ballast with just the manual control pot on the fixture itself. So, we'll start out with our CL-655RD (remote dimmable) model first and later may use this ballast in all the dimmable models including on our portable series so that they are all radio controlled + manual dim. I think this technology makes more sense for our market than DMX which I see as having its best use in a large scale studio environment with lots of fixtures involved.
METAL HALIDE / HMI
As I've said before our metal halide fixtures will separate into two types: CDM and HMI. The main difference being that the CDM line uses commercial grade cold start bulbs (with longer life than HMI) and ballasts. Our CL-MF0150 CDM 150 fresnel was the first in the CDM line. The 575w HMI fresnel thats under beta test right now is in the first in the HMI line. Our next HMI that I've been working on is an HMI 1200w fresnel. We are only producing 4 units right now: 2 cold start and 2 hot restart (using the 575/1200w "pro" ballast and ignitor). 3 of the models are already pre-sold, only 1 hot start unit left for some lucky person. The cold start models went for $1399 and the hot start for $1999. These were intro prices and the final ones will be a bit higher. We could only produce 4 models right now because of lack of parts for bigger production but we are working on that situation as well as the parts for our 575w too.
This model uses a more robust yoke than our 575w test units have. Guaranteed to lock in place! You can see the special clamp we have on the side where the locking handle is. We'll use this on our final 575w models when they come out later this year or next year.
The bottom of the 1200's yoke has a junior male pin (1 1/8" or 28mm in diameter) so you need a pretty good stand to hold this fresnel. Its about the same size and specs as an Arri 1200w compact HMI fresnel.
Its even got our signature handle on the back as well as our 4 pin ballast to head connector. The ignitors are different in the hot and cold models so you cannot interchange the heads and they are a matched set.
Continuing on with the HMI line, we're also working on finishing up our 1200w HMI Par thats been pictured on the site for a while. We'll be adding a few of these to inventory soon so they'll finally be available.
The situation that was holding us up on this has "unblocked" thanks to another DVXUser that suggested a solution. We were trying to engineer a less costly snap in lens set for this model than the "imported" german glass one we had available.
http://www.lightsactionco.com/
Apparently this company has reasonably priced lens set for many fixtures including the Arri 1200w par. Since our model is compatible with the Arri, the lens sets should work with this model too. This will be a good solution until we can have more time to work on our own. The typical lens set you'd want for a par like this would be a wide, narrow and diffused beam set of 3.
This par also uses the 575/1200w pro ballast and the production units will have hot restart capability using the G38 model 1200w HMI Osram type bulbs. The final customer price of this unit will be $3199 and includes the head, ballast, and 5m cable. Lens set or bulbs to be sourced elsewhere by customers as we won't provide those (for now).
METAL HALIDE / CDM
As this is being written our next batch of CL-MF0150 fresnels has just been packed and is ready to be shipped to the USA. They would already be on their way but I delayed the shipment so the 1200w pars and 1200w fresnels can catch a ride (so-to-speak) in the same shipment.
Continuing on in the CDM line, the next logical units will be a 250w and 400w fresnel. What's been holding us up is finding the suitable 250w and 400w CDM bulbs that are in the 5600K range and CRI of 85 or higher has been my goal. The color temperature and CRI have made it extremely hard to find. These higher wattage commercial type bulbs are typically CRI 65 and color temperature of 4200K or 3000K. We will find the bulb, its just a matter of time. We'll use the 1000w tungsten model for the 250w CDM fresnel. I have found a company that has a 3000K bulb of 85 CRI and our fallback plan may be to just offer the 3000K bulb in the short term. After all, how are you worse off with this? You've got a fresnel that draws 250w but puts out the equivalent "hard" light of a 1000w fresnel. Still good stuff and well worth it to get a cool light output version of a 1000w fresnel.
I have also been looking at a 35w Xenon bulb/ballast combo for use in a small pepper fresnel. 35w would be enough to give the equivalent of a 150w tungsten fresnel but super cool (but bright) technology like that used in many HID flashlights. I think this would be a super popular product and well appreciated for another option to keep your kit a total "cool light" kit.
CARRYING CASES
The carrying cases are finally in for all those that have been asking about them. Cordura nylon exteriors on all of them and hard inner shell as well as padding and velour lining. Reconfigurable velcro separators make the number of different case configurations numerous. The three primary models are the CL-CCL1 (mostly for the portable fluorescent models), CL-CCL2 (mostly for fresnel type instruments) and the CL-CCL3 (mostly for larger tungsten instruments and some flo carrying use as well).
Thats about it for now. We'll keep you posted on status as we can. Thanks for all your support we do appreciate it and are working hard to continue providing the things you're really wanting.
Lets start with LEDs.
As you may have seen on this thread:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=129091
We are working on an V2 of an LED project I started last fall. The first panel was disappointing in LED CRI and had some heat issues. I recommissioned another panel recently and I showed that today but will repost here:
I showed other pictures of it on the LED thread. The current issue is the LEDs are not a good color temperature for our use so we need to get another LED thats more suitable. The power draw is not bad though and is 25w at 12v. Some good suggestions have come out of the design thread including a single and double panel version that folds up like a book into a form easy for carrying around like an attache case.
Next steps are change out the LEDs, firm up the fixture housing we'll use for the single and double models, finish up yoke/angle positioning methods for the fixture, and packaging. We have planned on a pre-order price of $200 and a final price of $300 for the single version. Pricing to be determined on the double version.
FLUORESCENT
On the fluorescent front, the CL-655 studio (metal) model will be back better than ever with a radio remote controlled dimmable version (due to a lot of demand for a remote dim option). We finally found a dimmable ballast and remote control package that I like a lot and is very stable. I like the radio aspect over infrared for not being directional and I think you will too.
The "CL-655RD" as it will be called, will look pretty much like the normal CL-655 non-dimmable, but will include a digital pot for manual setting of the dimming on the fixture itself as well as a radio remote which includes all the appropriate controls for controlling banks (3 tubes at a time) and dimming. Here's a picture of our new ballast set and included remote and manual dim digital pot for the 655:
This is a double set of 3x55 dimmable ballasts and we also have a 2x55 dimmable ballast and remote available for our other models but are not ready to include yet. The other dimmable models will continue to use the current dimmable ballast with just the manual control pot on the fixture itself. So, we'll start out with our CL-655RD (remote dimmable) model first and later may use this ballast in all the dimmable models including on our portable series so that they are all radio controlled + manual dim. I think this technology makes more sense for our market than DMX which I see as having its best use in a large scale studio environment with lots of fixtures involved.
METAL HALIDE / HMI
As I've said before our metal halide fixtures will separate into two types: CDM and HMI. The main difference being that the CDM line uses commercial grade cold start bulbs (with longer life than HMI) and ballasts. Our CL-MF0150 CDM 150 fresnel was the first in the CDM line. The 575w HMI fresnel thats under beta test right now is in the first in the HMI line. Our next HMI that I've been working on is an HMI 1200w fresnel. We are only producing 4 units right now: 2 cold start and 2 hot restart (using the 575/1200w "pro" ballast and ignitor). 3 of the models are already pre-sold, only 1 hot start unit left for some lucky person. The cold start models went for $1399 and the hot start for $1999. These were intro prices and the final ones will be a bit higher. We could only produce 4 models right now because of lack of parts for bigger production but we are working on that situation as well as the parts for our 575w too.
This model uses a more robust yoke than our 575w test units have. Guaranteed to lock in place! You can see the special clamp we have on the side where the locking handle is. We'll use this on our final 575w models when they come out later this year or next year.
The bottom of the 1200's yoke has a junior male pin (1 1/8" or 28mm in diameter) so you need a pretty good stand to hold this fresnel. Its about the same size and specs as an Arri 1200w compact HMI fresnel.
Its even got our signature handle on the back as well as our 4 pin ballast to head connector. The ignitors are different in the hot and cold models so you cannot interchange the heads and they are a matched set.
Continuing on with the HMI line, we're also working on finishing up our 1200w HMI Par thats been pictured on the site for a while. We'll be adding a few of these to inventory soon so they'll finally be available.
The situation that was holding us up on this has "unblocked" thanks to another DVXUser that suggested a solution. We were trying to engineer a less costly snap in lens set for this model than the "imported" german glass one we had available.
http://www.lightsactionco.com/
Apparently this company has reasonably priced lens set for many fixtures including the Arri 1200w par. Since our model is compatible with the Arri, the lens sets should work with this model too. This will be a good solution until we can have more time to work on our own. The typical lens set you'd want for a par like this would be a wide, narrow and diffused beam set of 3.
This par also uses the 575/1200w pro ballast and the production units will have hot restart capability using the G38 model 1200w HMI Osram type bulbs. The final customer price of this unit will be $3199 and includes the head, ballast, and 5m cable. Lens set or bulbs to be sourced elsewhere by customers as we won't provide those (for now).
METAL HALIDE / CDM
As this is being written our next batch of CL-MF0150 fresnels has just been packed and is ready to be shipped to the USA. They would already be on their way but I delayed the shipment so the 1200w pars and 1200w fresnels can catch a ride (so-to-speak) in the same shipment.
Continuing on in the CDM line, the next logical units will be a 250w and 400w fresnel. What's been holding us up is finding the suitable 250w and 400w CDM bulbs that are in the 5600K range and CRI of 85 or higher has been my goal. The color temperature and CRI have made it extremely hard to find. These higher wattage commercial type bulbs are typically CRI 65 and color temperature of 4200K or 3000K. We will find the bulb, its just a matter of time. We'll use the 1000w tungsten model for the 250w CDM fresnel. I have found a company that has a 3000K bulb of 85 CRI and our fallback plan may be to just offer the 3000K bulb in the short term. After all, how are you worse off with this? You've got a fresnel that draws 250w but puts out the equivalent "hard" light of a 1000w fresnel. Still good stuff and well worth it to get a cool light output version of a 1000w fresnel.
I have also been looking at a 35w Xenon bulb/ballast combo for use in a small pepper fresnel. 35w would be enough to give the equivalent of a 150w tungsten fresnel but super cool (but bright) technology like that used in many HID flashlights. I think this would be a super popular product and well appreciated for another option to keep your kit a total "cool light" kit.
CARRYING CASES
The carrying cases are finally in for all those that have been asking about them. Cordura nylon exteriors on all of them and hard inner shell as well as padding and velour lining. Reconfigurable velcro separators make the number of different case configurations numerous. The three primary models are the CL-CCL1 (mostly for the portable fluorescent models), CL-CCL2 (mostly for fresnel type instruments) and the CL-CCL3 (mostly for larger tungsten instruments and some flo carrying use as well).
Thats about it for now. We'll keep you posted on status as we can. Thanks for all your support we do appreciate it and are working hard to continue providing the things you're really wanting.
